chsdbacks Chapter 57 New Partners
Chapter 57 New Partners
The excruciating pain and humiliation of being defeated by the Elephant Monster still lingered in his nerve endings, and Iai's consciousness floated in the darkness as if he were falling into an abyss.
However, the expected death and annihilation did not come. Instead, a warm and strange power enveloped him and pulled him out of the void.
He suddenly "opened" his eyes, only to find himself not lying in the ruins of G City, but in a strange space that could not be described in words.
Beneath my feet flows a “river” that seems to be formed from countless points of starlight, flowing slowly without making a sound.
All around was a boundless, hazy mist, tranquil and ethereal, like the chaotic land at the beginning of the universe.
"Where...am I?"
Iai was filled with confusion. "I remember I was fighting that elephant-headed monster, and then... I lost? Am I dead?"
Just as he was filled with doubt and uncertainty, the flowing starlight in front of him suddenly accelerated and converged, quickly outlining two clear figures.
The person on the left looks very young, with black hair and black eyes. He has a handsome face but a maturity beyond his years, and his eyes are as sharp as an eagle's.
The man on the right was much taller and more robust, with brown skin and long white hair cascading down his shoulders. Most striking of all were the pair of black wings folded behind him, and he exuded a faint aura of heat. His eyes were wild and sharp.
It was Genma Shiranui and Jin who manifested here after sensing the summoning of the new soul fragment.
The two looked at the young man in front of them, who was wearing tattered steel armor and whose consciousness was still vaguely discernible, and their faces showed surprise and understanding.
"They've arrived! New compatriots!"
Genma's lips curled up slightly, his tone carrying a hint of anticipation.
Jin crossed his arms, sized up Iaijutsu's attire and demeanor, and grinned, "You look familiar... I remember now, you're Iaijutsu-an, one of Atomic Samurai's three disciples! I never imagined that another part of my soul, Da Zhangwei, would be reborn as him!"
One-Punch Man World!
A glint of light flashed in Genma's eyes. "The power ceiling in that world is ridiculously high—freaks, heroes, all sorts of superpowers! Brother, you've landed in a 'dungeon' with enormous potential!"
Hearing the two men's familiar yet astonishing words, Iai was terrified.
"What...are you talking about? Zhang Wei? Rebirth? One-Punch Man?"
He subconsciously took a half step back, his hand reaching for the hilt of the knife at his waist, but he found nothing; his consciousness had no physical weapon.
However, just as his vigilance and doubt reached their peak, it was as if a key switch had been flipped, and a vast, chaotic, yet interconnected torrent of memories suddenly and without warning rushed into his sea of consciousness.
"Aaaaaah—!"
The violent impact made him clutch his head and groan, countless images, emotions, and experiences flashing through his mind like a flood breaking through a dam...
The massive flow of information washed over his perceptions and reshaped his self.
After an unknown amount of time, the torrent of memories gradually subsided.
Iaido, or rather, the completely new Zhang Wei, who had part of his soul restored, slowly raised his head and looked at Genma and Jin again, his eyes had completely changed.
The previous wariness, unfamiliarity, and confusion disappeared, replaced by an absolute sense of identity that transcends language, image, and even world barriers, originating from the very essence of the soul.
"I am Zhang Wei!? I am also Genma Shiranui, King of the Lunaria race, and Iaian Samurai's disciple—Iai!?"
His voice trembled slightly; the feeling was both strange and incredibly real.
"That's right, you are me too, we are all one."
Genma nodded with a smile, his tone resolute.
Jin stepped forward, patted Iai on the shoulder forcefully, and laughed heartily, "Welcome back, my other self! Now our 'Zhang Wei' team is even stronger!"
Through a connection at the soul level, they instantly understood each other's latest situation.
Iaijutsu "saw" Genma's active role on the Konoha battlefield, and the name "Black Lightning" had already resounded throughout the ninja world; it also "saw" how King fought fiercely with Kaido, joined the Beasts Pirates, became "Wildfire," and embarked on the road to supremacy.
Genma and Jin also clearly sensed the fierce battle that Iai had just experienced—the destruction of G City, the terror of the Elephant Monster, and the defeat of Atomic Samurai's three disciples.
"A Demon-level monster? You're really unlucky to face an enemy of this level as soon as you wake up."
Jin grinned, seemingly gloating, but his eyes showed concern.
Genma seemed thoughtful: "However, this also confirms the danger of the One-Punch Man world. Iai, according to the classification of that world, your current strength is probably above the A-class hero level. You might be able to deal with ordinary Tiger-level heroes, but you would be far from enough to face powerful Demon-level or even Dragon-level heroes."
As Iai felt the clarity that came with the restoration of his soul, he nodded with a wry smile: "Yes, that elephant monster's defense and strength were terrifying. My Iai Slash couldn't break through its defenses at all."
"Things are different now!"
Jin interrupted him, his eyes burning with fighting spirit, "We are one! Our power, experience, and understanding will all be shared! Genma's chakra system, my Lunaria physique, and Haki are all yours now!"
Before the words were even finished, Jin and Xuanjian voluntarily opened their soul imprints.
Instantly, two completely different yet shared forces surged into Iai's consciousness like a warm tide.
One type is about the exquisite manipulation of chakra, the ultimate understanding of its form and nature transformation, and the experience of training in various ninjutsu and taijutsu.
The other aspect concerns the application techniques of the three types of Haki, the instinct of the Lunaria race's fire power, and that indomitable fighting spirit that challenges the strong.
The rules of the One-Punch Man world are highly compatible, and chakra and Haki are perfectly inherited. Meanwhile, the physique of the Lunaria race begins to subtly strengthen the foundation of this body's iaido ability.
Iai could clearly feel that deep within his body, weakened by defeat, new life was emerging.
The muscle soreness was easing rapidly, and a deeper, more resilient seed of strength was sprouting with each breath. Countless new inspirations were also arising in my mind regarding swordsmanship and the application of power.
"This is the sharing of physical attributes and the enhancement of comprehension!"
A brilliant light flashed in Iai's eyes. He subconsciously pointed his fingers together like a knife, and a sharp aura naturally gathered at his fingertips. Although it was weak, it was far more concentrated and penetrating than before.
"Can you feel it?"
Genji laughed, "This is the benefit of soul completion. It's not just about physical optimization, but more importantly, the enhancement of comprehension. In your world, swordsmanship, superpowers, and physical training methods abound. With this comprehension, your future growth rate will far exceed what ordinary people can imagine."
Jin added, "And combat experience! The life-or-death battles Genma and I went through, the skills we learned to deal with powerful enemies, the intuition we had for seizing opportunities—these are all your assets now. When you encounter that elephant monster again, you might not be without a fighting chance!"
Iai clenched his fist, feeling the new power surging within him and the inspiration flowing through his mind. The gloom of his previous defeat was swept away, replaced by unprecedented confidence and anticipation.
"I see!"
Iai nodded emphatically, his eyes hardening. "I'm not fighting alone! Behind me, I have you all! I have the entire 'Zhang Wei' team!"
He looked up at the mysterious starry sky, as if he could penetrate space and see the strange man destroying the city.
"Elephant monsters, Demon-level disasters, and that bald demon king, the world of One-Punch Man? Just wait, here I come! This time, I will not fall so easily!"
Three "selves" from different worlds smiled at each other in the True Spirit Space, a tacit understanding and fighting spirit flowing quietly between them.
Iai knew that after regaining consciousness, he would face a powerful demon-level monster.
But at this moment, he was filled with courage.
Because he is no longer just the A-rank hero Iai-an, he is a brand new Iai-an who carries Zhang Wei's soul and gathers the power of "himself" from all the heavens and myriad worlds!
See you next time!
Sensing the repulsion emanating from the space, the three bid each other farewell in tacit agreement.
Iai's consciousness was sent out of the True Spirit Space and returned to his scarred but quietly transformed body.
The hustle and bustle of reality and the crisis are upon us once again.
But this time, he was different.